I travelled Vietnam North to South and so started in the capital city of Hanoi.
Where to stay
The old quarter is the heart of the city where you can walk to amazing food spots and local sites. If you’re backpacking I recommend Little Charm Hanoi Hostel it was so clean, comfy beds with curtains, plug sockets, towels, has it’s own restaurant and laundry service.
What to do
Grab a beer at Train Street: during the week the trains only go past at around 9pm and 10pm at night. When I visited there was a bit of confusion whether Train Street was still legal as at one point the police arrived and the bars started closing down their shutters but if you can its worth a look round.
Visit Hoan Kiem Lake for Turtle Tower and visit the pagoda. There’s a small fee for the Pagoda and it’s not that big but I really liked the architecture and thought it was worth it.
Cruise along Ha Long Bay. Arguably the most iconic place to visit in Vietnam an a UNESCO world heritage site. There are numerous tours that will pick you up from Hanoi for a day boat tour along Ha Long Bay with the option to go kayaking along the bay too.
Day trip to Ninh Ninh. This was my favourite day in Vietnam. While I thought Ha Long Bay was amazing Ninh Ninh just felt really special. It was more interactive- the day involved cycling around the rice terraces admiring the stunning scenery as well as a small boat ride through Tam Coc. Only a few hours from the border with China you really see the Chinese influence in this part of the country.
Where else to go
If I had more time I would have liked to stay outside the busy and noisy Hanoi and experience more of the countryside. I would have stayed one night in Ninh Binh, a night or two in Sapa and would do the 3/4 day Ha Giang Loop as everyone I spoke to said it was the highlight of their trip to Vietnam. It’s a bike tour where you visit remote villages and see amazing landscapes. If you don’t want to ride a bike yourself you can pay around £50 extra for an easy rider- someone who will drive the bike for you.
What to eat
Banh Mi 25 When in Vietnam you will want to eat Banh Mi for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This place always has a queue but it’s worth it.
Bun Cha Huong Lien Bun Cha is a Hanoi delicacy and this food stall might look very basic (there’s one thing on the menu and only tiny plastic chairs and tables to sit at) but it’s the best place to go- even Barack Obama stated it was the best street food he’s ever tasted. Bun Cha is fried pork in a broth with noodles- sounds and looks not the most appetising but it’s one of the best meals I had in South East Asia- unbelievable flavours and so tasty.
Cafe Pho Co You need to try an egg coffee while in Vietnam- I can only describe it as tiramisu in a cup it’s like a dessert. This cafe is amazing – you walk through a shop to get to it so feels like a hidden secret (I only found out about it because my roommate told me to go there). There’s around 5 floors and if you head to the top you get a view of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Hong Hoai’s Restaurant One of the top rated restaurants in Hanoi at still affordable prices you’d be silly not to have dinner here. I recommend the fresh spring rolls- the waiters will show how to make and eat them properly.
Hanoi beer! Many cities and towns in Vietnam have their own local beer and Hanoi Beer and Ha Long Bay Beer were my favourite in Vietnam, very smooth and easy to drink. Available at most restaurants.
If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam and have limited time then I would recommend staying in Hanoi/ the north of the country. The food, the scenery and culture was amazing and in my opinion the best part of Vietnam.